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Staff Report Item 5a
To: Board of Directors
From: Alan Harry, Director of Telecommunications Services
Date: March 29, 2002
Subject: Consideration of Broadband Issues
At the District's regular meeting on March 6 1 reported that staff had received completed Design
and Engineering for the District's proposed Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) infrastructure from our
Consultants and was ready to prepare formal documents to put the construction of the system
out to bid. 1 further reported that due to recent discoveries regarding Fiber to the Home (FTTH)
technologies that it would be prudent to place any action related to the HFC system on hold for
the time being while I completed a review of those companies developing FTTH equipment.
During the past month I have had the opportunity to meet with a number of FTTH venders,
whose technology and equipment allow the provision of Video, Data & Voice services to
residential and business customers over a pure fiber infrastructure.
As you recall my March 6 report included a number of issues that I felt had to be addressed
prior to making any recommendations regarding the delivery of services over an HFC or
FTTH infrastructure. The areas of major concern were, 1) interior wiring, and 2) the
difference in cost between the two methods of service delivery.
At the District's April 3 meeting I will provide the Board with an overview of my FTTH review,
information pertaining to the issues previously raised, and make recommendations as to the
next steps available to the District.
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Staff Report Item 5b
To: Board of Directors
From: Alan Harry, Director of Telecommunications Services
Date: March 29, 2002
Subject: Consideration of Broadband Issues
At the District's regular meeting on March 6 the Board of Director's discussed the possibility of
conducting a third telephone survey of District's Residential customers.
As with the surveys previously conducted on the District's behalf, questions asked could focus on
the following issues:
-Subscription levels of Internet, CATV and satellite TV services.
- How Internet services are used (business,hobbies,day-trading, personal).
-Satisfaction levels with current providers(quality,reliability,cost,etc).
-Switching intent if options were available.
-Switching intent if option were TDPUD.
- Full-time or part-time residency.
-Other demographics.
I have been in contact with the firm hired to conduct the Districts first customer survey, Sierra
Market Research, and have received the attached proposal to provide services for that District at
a cost of$8,600, and with timeline of approximately five weeks.
If the Board believes that a third survey of District customers is necessary, I would recommend
that you authorize the District Manager to enter into a contract with Sierra Market Research to
conduct such a survey at a cost not to exceed $8,600.
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Terra arket Research
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Mr. Alan Harry March 21, 2002
Director of Telecommunications Services
Truckee Donner Public Utility District
11570 Donner Pass Road Box 309
Truckee, CA 96160
Dear Alan:
The following is our bid for a project similar in scope to the one that we had conducted for you in
2000.
Fifteen depth interviews will be conducted among part-time area residents. A telephone survey will be
conducted among 400 full-time residents.
The sample for the calls will be provided by TDPUD.
Issues: Subscription levels of Internet, CATV and satellite TV services.
How Internet services are used (business, hobbies, day-trading, personal).
Satisfaction levels with current providers (quality, reliability, cost, etc).
Switching intent if options were available.
Switching intent if option were TDPUD.
Full-time or part-time residency.
Other demographics.
Cost: $ 8,600.
Timeline: Five weeks from date of approved questionnaire.
Terms: Half of our fees are payable in advance.
The balance is due 10 hays following delivery of the final report.
Best regards,
d
Carl M. Be rgeman
Sierra Market search
sierracb@cwnet.com
(916) 486-8590
Summary of Previously Conducted Customer Telephone Surveys
Sierra Market Research Feb-00
Number of respondents 401 Yes
Key Question: Would you purchase Cable TV and Internet Services from the TDPUD? 69016
Vectren Communications Services Sep-00
Number of respondents 100 Yes
Key Question: What is the likelyhood of you switching Cable TV providers? 75%
Peter Holzmeister
From: Paul Rouser[pfrouser@telis.org]
Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2002 10:52 AM
To: Peter Holzmeister
Cc: Julie Bartolini; Duane Evans
Subject: high speed data
Peter, as you may recall we are interested in discussing high speed data to
Northstar. We had discussed the possibility of meeting with your lead for
the TDPUD in that regard. We would like to know the status, and direction,
and possibility for us to be involved. I will be out of town for the next 2
weeks, so if you could set up a meeting after that time it would be
appreciated. Our Chairman, Duane Evans, will also be in attendance. Please
contact Julie Bartolini at 562-0747 in my absence. Thanks...Paul
Apr 03 02 10: 04a LTOL&JDC (530) 5SO- 1372 p. 2
17
Lake Tahoe on Line
12219 Business Park Drive d 14
Truckee,CA 96161
(530)582-2080—W Ww.LTOL.CO�i
Tuesday, April 02, 2002
To: Peter Holaneister,Manager, TDPUD
TDPUD Board Members
From: Jon DeLee, Lake Tahoe on Line
Re: Server Space
My name is Jon DeLee, owner of Lake Tahoe on Line as well as JDC Computers.
I have been doing computer consulting in the Truckee area since 1993. The Internet
began its enormous surge in growth during the 90's, and my responsibilities increasingly
became Internet related. It became obvious relatively quickly that the needs of the public
were not being filled.
After many frustrating hours spent on the phone with other ISPs,both on hold and
speaking to customer service representatives that were leafing through a booklet trying to
figure out what was wrong, I felt that I could do a better job of supporting my clients if I
handled the internet connection myself. So with this commitment to customer service,I
purchased a small local Internet service provider named Lake Tahoe On Line.
When I took over LTOL in 1998, there were around 240 customers. We now have about
1,300 customers, and provide support services for other ISPs for an additional 250 or so
customers. The response to LTOL has been very positive—people like to be able to call
one company to solve a problem without getting a finger pointing somewhere else.
Because of our commitment to provide better services to our customers, we instituted
policies and products that ISP's normally don't offer, such as inexpensive dedicated
circuits(less than'/z of what the other ISP in the Tahoe Basin was charging), Static IP
addresses for only$3 per month additional, and free e-mail domain access. We were on
the forefront of Wireless Internet technologies, and we have had a small Wireless Internet
infrastructure that has served Truckee for two years now. We were also one of the first in
the state to roll out Wide Area Centrex ISDN services last year.
It is our firm belief that the Truckee/Tahoe area consumer needs reliable, high-speed
access to the Internet. As an ISP, we get calls almost daily inquiring about higher speed
access. I have seen homes fall out of escrow because the buyer found out that they
couldn't get DSL or other high-speed bi-directional Internet access at the location.
It would seem counterintuitive that I would support the PUD's plan for distributing
broadband to the residents of Truckee, but I have always believed that what is in the
consumer s best interest comes first, and as such I support the effort for fiber to the home,
Pagel of 2
Apr 03 02 10: 04a LTOL&JDC (530) 550-1372 p. 3
Lake Tahoe on Line
12219 Business Park Drive 914
Truckee,CA 96161
(530)582-2080—W W W.LTOL.COM
just as I supported the effort of USA Media on their Internet Cable rollout. However,
USA Media has failed to deliver as promised.
I have spoken with Alan Harry on numerous occasions about the Internet access that he is
proposing for the residents of the Truckee area, and would like to formally notify
whomever is concerned that it is my intention to participate in the project in whatever
capacity is needed. This means anything from a limited involvement as a simple reseller
of the service to handling all of the server and support services, including technical
support and billing. I already have enough server capacity for 10,000 users, and can
easily add more as the need arises.
My immediate plans call for installing numerous T-Is, both for my own backbone usage
as well as to customers,mainly in Alpine Meadows, Squaw Valley, and in the Tahoe
Basin, but there are a few people who have expressed interest here in Truckee. I am sure
that the need for T-Is here in Truckee will disappear when the fiber project goes through.
In order to do this, I need to put in a fiber backbone, or lease space in a facility that has
an existing Pacific Bell fiber drop. Pacific Bell has such a facility in your building.
While I already have permission to install such services out at the Airport Business Park,
I believe it will be more beneficial to use existing facilities. The proposed lease
arrangement at the business park is basically for a trade—I would provide access to the
Internet for a 4-computer office in exchange for space and power. This works out to
roughly S80/per month.
I would like to lease a small amount of space at your location—enough for a 19" rack or
possibly two 19"racks.
This will allow me to serve an immediate and pressing need in the community, and I
hope to be able to use the same facilities that I install to work with you on the upcoming
project.
Sincerely,
= -Z -
Jon DeLee
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